Now, much
as I like Audrey and Emily – (will she ever return?) I feel that the crown must
be passed down to the next generation.
So what
characteristics do we need? We need someone who is well-liked and respected. Someone
strong and forthright too, who will fight her own and other people’s battles,
with passion and fury. She should be someone who hasn’t had an easy life, but
has come through, scarred, but wise. And underneath the tough exterior, not a
perfect person, but someone with a flawed character and with a good heart, who
genuinely loves her friends. A sense of humour wouldn’t go amiss either and we
need longevity, too.
So let’s
see who we’ve got. Now we know she’s returning, first for consideration has to
be, none other than...
1
Carla
Connor – A strong candidate for the crown. Independent, takes no prisoners,
strong, kind when it really matters (Roy and Hayley). What lets her down is
that though she is admired and factory boss, I don’t feel she is very well
liked and doesn’t have many friends.
Liz McDonald – another strong candidate. Since leaving The Rovers, Liz seems to be at a loose end. After years of fulfilling her role as landlady, she has shown herself to be popular, kind and probably in the know of many people’s business, either from their intentional sharing of their private lives or because of having overheard confidences. She is emotionally intelligent and though I am sure she would appreciate a man in her life, she is not willing to have one at any price – remember the public humiliation of Tony Stewart? And yes, she is tough. She also has a sense of humour.
Liz McDonald – another strong candidate. Since leaving The Rovers, Liz seems to be at a loose end. After years of fulfilling her role as landlady, she has shown herself to be popular, kind and probably in the know of many people’s business, either from their intentional sharing of their private lives or because of having overheard confidences. She is emotionally intelligent and though I am sure she would appreciate a man in her life, she is not willing to have one at any price – remember the public humiliation of Tony Stewart? And yes, she is tough. She also has a sense of humour.
3
Sally
Metcalfe – Although her character is an appealing one in a soap, I doubt that Sally
would fulfil the stringent criteria laid down for Queen of the Cobbles. Sally
is ambitious, often amusing, though not always deliberately so. She is a social
climber, an egomaniac and a snob. She tells people she eats kale and quinoa,
but then lets herself down by asserting that a Vienneta is a suitably bourgeois
dessert. She reacts to people, according to their station, the posher, the better,
and is very swift to judge. Sorry Sally, the crown cannot be yours.
4
Eileen
Phelan – Witty, kind, especially to Summer, very generous in allowing people to
stay in her house, but she can be cold and unpleasant. Her feud with Gail is
ridiculous and both women should end it now. A good friend, but lacks interest
in goings-on outside her small domestic sphere to have any chance of wearing
the crown.
Michelle Connor – she has suffered recently, but falls into men’s arms too easily and
indiscriminately. She shows little
ambition, for her own sake, only insofar as it involves a man. A little naïve but
she was an excellent friend to Carla, though I understand that that friendship
will struggle to survive on Carla’s return. But, she has forgotten that she has
a son called Ryan! Sorry Michelle.
Other possibilities include, Gail and Yasmeen, but I’ve ruled them out. Gail
doesn’t have the gravitas and Yasmeen has not been around long enough. If she
sticks around, she will be considered.
Of the younger ones, we have Jenny, Eva, Maria, Fiz, Toyah, Leanne, Sally, Mary, Sarah, Eva, Izzy,
Alya, Rana, Kate, Shona and even Gemma (!) who, under the influence of the current queen could make the grade given time. Gemma has shown herself to be devoted to Rita and is a loyal friend to Chesney, and of course, we should never say never. In some
cases access to the throne will take time - a heck of a lot of time.
By Ruth Owen.
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7 comments:
Rita was a complex character. One of her main qualities was the willingness to protect vulnerable people, mostly young females. True, Carla did show kindness towards Hayley and Roy, but it came late in the day. We later learnt that it was not part of the character's development but the writers' ploy to make Carla more likeable (source: several soap sites). Rita's successor will have to be a mother figure - Rita, Elsie and Bet were all the same in that regard. Liz was very kind to Tina and she could well take on Gemma after Rita dies/leaves. The other contenders mentioned don't have much in the way of 'community kindness'. Eileen could have qualified but she has become so unlikeable that she's dropped out of the running. I hope tptb see sense and put Liz back in the Rovers where she can keep an eye out for any distressed souls.
Of the current nexts in line, I think Liz is the closest but she'll need to get herself out from under Moira's thumb. You can't be a queen when you're a seen as a pawn all week. Too bad Yasmeen is a relative newby; she has all the traits and has already taken in a stray.
Of the younger ladies, right now only Leanne and Rana have enough spine and smarts. I hope Zeedan doesn't because part of Rana's tragedy story.
Definitely Liz. I hate that she has to deal with Moira. I don't find it funny. I dread the thought but I can see Steve ending up with Moira. I am saddened that they may miss the opportunity to fully develop Liz. Look what they have done to Gail!
Gail Platt and (whatever other surnames) has endured more than most anyone on the planet and she is still standing. Most would have down a bottle of cyanide with bottle of vodka by know. For her longevity and tenacity Gail is the strongest woman on the street.
I love Liz as the Queen of the Street but I also think Audrey would be a close runner up.
Of the next generations, my first thought was for Sally though I do like Gail. As the above commenter says, Gail has been through the wringer. She may be daft at times but that's easily remedied by writing something better for her.
Taking it down again, I think Leanne has all the markings for it in the future.
I don't understand why Eileen and Michelle were even considered as 'successors' to Rita,both of them are self centered and lacks the compassion for others in the community that Rita has.
I could see Leanne as a future 'Queen of the Street'.
She genuinely cares about other people and unlike Michelle or Eileen is not quick to judge due to her own checkered history.
A example of Leanne being like Rita was when Steph Britton's ex boyfriend posted revenge nude photos of Steph on the internet and Leanne acting as a friend not her boss,supported Steph throughout the whole ordeal after she went to the police.
I thought a bit of Rita rubbed off on Leanne when Leanne worked in the Kabin.
Anyone but Michelle.
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